I have been a collector since I was a child.... mostly aimless & pointless collections. Nothing very valuable, not too trendy, and rarely in mint condition. Just a plethora of "stuff" that I've had fun adding to through the years. If I have at least 3, I consider it a collection. I'll be posting a different collection daily, Monday through Friday, and spotlighting some other marvelous collections I've discovered on the weekends. I hope you stop by often!

Friday, April 20, 2012

COLLECTION #212: Vintage Atlas Collection

Usually Fridays are reserved for vintage school books, or occasionally, just children's books, but since atlases are often found in schools, I thought this would be the perfect occasion.

I've always loved maps and atlases. I was fascinated with the giant US and world maps we had in our elementary school classrooms... they pulled down from the top of the blackboard like a movie screen. The colors, borders, lines, rivers, oceans, cities, points of interest, capitals... not to mention, the compass, highways, lakes, mountains, deserts, all were indicated on our maps.

Rand McNally atlases

My own atlas. Note how I erased my printed name, and wrote it in cursive. I'm sure I wanted to impress someone!

When I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade, my Mom bought me my own Rand McNally Current Events atlas. It cost her a whopping 50 cents. But I remember how I pored over it, and even wrote a little note on the USSR, voicing my displeasure at the current resident of the Kremlin.

A personal note to Kruschev from little me, age 10 or so.

I've mentioned in a past post that I don't think young people feel the same way about maps as I did, or perhaps you did. I wonder if they really learn how to read a map in school anymore. The internet and GPS systems have made navigation a thing of the past. But to me, they are fascinating.

I have quite a collection of vintage atlases. They range from the 1920s to the 1950s, and there are at least two of them from the WWII years, showing the post-1938 Hitler invasions and European divisions. So fascinating!

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About This Blog

A few months ago, I discovered a wonderfulblogcreated by illustrator and designer Lisa Congden. She posted a different collection every day for the year 2010. Being a collector myself, the first thing I thought was that, although I love her collections and her lovely artwork & presentation, I think I have cooler stuff than she does! Thus, the idea for a copycat collector blog began. I can't say my idea is original, but I think my collections are fun, quirky, and worth spotlighting.Also note that I'm willing to part with some of my stuff. I will happily consider any offers for all or part of my daily collections. If the post is marked "FS", then consider at least some of it available.

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stefanieeskander@gmail.com

About Me

I'm a toy designer and illustrator by profession, and a graphic designer and digital scrapbooker by avocation.
I'm a wife to a wonderful man, Mom to 4 great kids, and Grandma to four adorable boys, and two beautiful granddaughers. I hope you enjoy my blog!